Kansas State’s Markquis Nowell Breaks Men’s NCAA Tournament Assists Record

The senior’s record-setting performance led the Wildcats into the Elite Eight.

The World’s Most Famous Arena just treated college basketball fans to one of the most incredible performances in men’s NCAA tournament history.

Kansas State senior point guard Markquis Nowell set the all-time record with 19 assists in the Wildcats’ East Regional victory over Michigan State. Nowell's supreme production is the most in a men’s NCAA tournament game, breaking the previous mark set by UNLV’s Mark Wade (18) back in the 1987 National Semifinals.

Nowell also shatters the previous record for assists by a player in a regional game. The previous mark of 13 assists was shared by Michigan’s Rumeal Robinson (1989), UNLV’s Anderson Hunt (1990), Utah’s Andre Miller 1998) and Davidson’s Jason Richards (2008).

To try and put this feat more into perspective, Nowell was not only part of 64 of the Kansas State’s 98 points (44 points on his 19 assists), he also finished with more assists than the entire Spartans team (18). 

Talk about a homecoming for the Harlem, New York native.

Markquis Nowell with an all-time great #MarchMadness performance in his hometown 🔥 pic.twitter.com/pCrkIyivUj

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 24, 2023

The star point guard filled up the stat sheet with 20 points, three rebounds and five steals to go with 19 assists en route to leading Kansas State to a 98–93 thrilling overtime victory over Tom Izzo and the Spartans.

The Wildcats will face the winner of Tennessee vs. Florida Atlantic on Saturday in Elite Eight action from New York City.